Suction cleaner



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E. C. BECKER @si y ma.

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 5, :193s 2 shams-she@ 1 sNvENToR ATTORN EY Oct. 15, 1940. B. QBECKER 2,218,160

' suczlror# CLEANER Filed ec. 5, 193e 2 Sheets-Shag?.-

" INVENTOR Bern ard C.' e citer i De'c e ased Bv @mim/cf 513mm?, firearm/.-

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. `15, 1.940

-Um'i'iszb STATES PATENT ,oFFicE signor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December s, 193s, sericiNc. 243,95;

c claims. (ci. sos-1s) 'I'he present invention relates to suction' cleanjoined by a circular top wal-L20 substantially con ers and particularly to new and'improved handle i centric with the pivotal axis of the handle and control mechanism in a suction cleaner. VMore socket. The pivotal axis is formed by a pin 2| speciilcally the invention comprises an improved which extends through the faces I9, I9 of the 5 handle position controlinasuction cleaner which handle Socket and le carried by the Side Walls I! -is characterized in that a hand-operated mech- 22, 22 oi' a bracket 28 rigidly mounted upon the anism controls the positions and rangeof movetop surface of the exhaust outlet I2, the side ment ofthe pivoted cleaner handle. walls 22, 22 being arranged vexteriorly of the side It is an object of the present invention to faces I9, |90! the handle socket I8. l provide a new and improvedv suction cleaner. 'It 'Ihe handle-position-controlling mechanism 10, is another object to provide neand improved comprises segment means 25 and cooperating handle controlling means in a suctioncieaner. llocking detent means 26. The segment means in- It is another object to provide a handle control clude a ,pair of segments 21, 21 formed integral which is hand-operated to control the movement with the side walls 22, 22 of the bracket 23 and l of the handle to diil'erent operating positions. are divided at their lower edges into three disl5 A further Objectis to provide a novel .electrical tinct ranges ot handle positions by stops 28, 29 connector to accommodate part of the handle and 30. control mechanism, Further objects and advan- Cooperating with the segments 21, 21 is the tages of the invention will -be apparent upon relocking detent means 26 which include a pair zo ferring to the following specii'lcation and claims o'f spaced arms 3i, II pivotally mounted cna g3 and the attached drawings, wherein: AAsleeve 32 which is rotatable about the pivot pin Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner 2 l, the Sleeve extending threus'h the handle Seekembodying the present invention with certain et lI8 and the side arms of the bracket 23, a nut parts broken away; 33 being threaded onto the pivot pinl 2l to se- Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional vcure the parts together. The arms 3|, 3| are g5 view showing one embodiment of the invention; suitably rigidly mounted. as for example by riv- Flgure 3 is a rear elevation of part of the conets 34, to the inner surface of the handle socket struction shown in Figure 2; I8, so as to move with the latter, and extend Figure 4 is an exploded view showing'the reladownwardly below the pivot pin 2I and are pro' tion of the parts constituting the handle control vided with forwardly extending portions 35, 35. 30 mechanism, and SuitableI openings are provided in the forward Figure 5 is a side elevation with the handle ends 35, 35 of the spaced arms 3l, 3I to loosely broken away to show the control mechanism in pivotally receive the projecting lugs 36, 38 of a handle release position. locking or latch plate 31 from which extend lock- An embodiment oi' the invention is disclosed ing detents or latch pins 38, 38 loosely disposed 35 in a suction cleaner comprising a main casing in elongated arcuate slots 39, 39 in the arms 3i, I8 having a nome and an unshown fan chamber 3I-. The detents 38, 38 extend transversely of communicating with an exhaust passageway I2, the low'er end of the handle socket I8 and are The rear of the exhaust passageway -is provided adapted t0 register in the eCeSSeS 40 defined by L0 with a. vertical ilan'ge I3 to which is removably Ithe SISODS 28 in the Segments t0 hold the handle o secured a dust bag I4. The casing I0 supports in storage position. and are engageable with the an unshown motor enclosed in a motor housing recessed surfaces 4I between the stops 28 and 29 9, and the motor operates an unshown fan to to permit movement of the handle through an create suction and draw dirt laden air from the intermediate operating range, and along the sur- 5 surface being cleaned through the nozzle Il.'4 faces l2 between the Stops-29 and 30 t0 permit 5 the unshown ran chamber, and exhausts it into movement of the handle through a 10W Operating the dirt-'filtering bag Il. The cleaneris s up- -range- Y ported on front end rear wheels I5 and I6, re- A spring 4I is secured to the yrear end of the spectively. Y latch plate 31 and toa handle socket bottom D The-,cleaner ispropelled over the surface cow plate 48 to at all times Urge the lockingdetents o enng by means or. a handle i1 pivotally mounted 30. 38 into engagement with the segments 21. 21- to the body of the cleaner through being remov- A pair of relatively strong springs", I1 have one ably clamped in a split socket I8 which is formed end attached to lugs 48 formed integralv with `withintegzal nat side faces*'i 9, I9 spaced apart the bracket 23 and their outer-ends aresecured ijby substantially the diameter of the. handle and to the opposite ends of a pin 49 which extends 5 through the handle socket |6 and the latch arms 3|, 3|, and moves in slots 56 formed in the bracket 23 when the handle is moved toy different operative positions. The springs 41, 41 are arranged below the pivot pin 2| and at .all times exert a force to move the handle upwardly to counter-balance the handle weight.

A hand operated mechanism is provided to operate the detent plate 31 and comprises two rods 6| and 62, the lower rod 5| having its extreme end 53 reduced and disposed in .an opening in a tab .54' of the detent plate 31, the shoulder 66 formed bythe reduction in the diameter of the rod 6| resting on the tab 54. The tab 54 is disposed at an angle with the latch member 31 to provide a substantial line contact with the shoulder 55. The upper end of the lower rod 6|,is reduced in diameter and extends loosely through an opening 51 in the plug 56 and into an enlarged recess 66l in the insulation of an electrical receptacle 66. Extending longitudinally through the handle |1 is the upper rod 52 having its lower end 6| extending through the insulation of the electrical receptacle 66 into. the enlarged recess 56 therein. The upper end 62 of the rod 52 is carried bya lever 63 pivotally mounted in the handle' and having a portion 64 for sliding engagement with iently grasp the handle and hand actuated lever 65 pivoted at 66 to the handie.' A spring 61 is arranged about the rod 62 and between a rigid stop 66 on the latter and a collar 66 slidably'mounted onthe rod 52 and which abuts against the lever arm 6|. The hand operated lever 65 is normally urged to the handle locking position shown in Figure 2 to provide a dead-man handle control, due to the force exerted by thespring 61, the latter also urging the Arod upwardly' in the handle out of engagement with thelower rod 5|-, The spring 61 acts-as a shock absorber and prevents damage to any of.4

the associated parts if the hand lever 66 is operated and the latch plate 31 for same reason its pivots. The lever 66 of the handle, whereby the operator can convene operate the hand lever 66.

The electric plug 66 is removably attached in.

the handle socket I6 by a clamp. secured to the socket bottom plate 46 which is welded to the handle socket VI6 and for1`ns a bottom wall of the socket, and to winch one end of the latch spring 45 is attached. -Suitable electrical conductors 1| extend from the contacts 12 in the plug receptacle through an elongated opening 13 in the bottom plate 46 to the unshown motor. The electrical receptacle 66 not only includes means defining an enlarged chamber 66 for effecting operative engagement of 'the two rods 6| and 62 but also is provided with contacts for con-v conductors 14 which extend.

nection to electrical upwardly in the handle to a switch 16.

In operation, assume the handle |1 to be in storage position, the locking detents 36, 36 are held in the recesses .46, 46 by the spring46. In order to lower the handle to a convenient operating angle the operator places his hand about the handle |1 and presses the hand lever 66 which `causes the rod 62 to move downwardly in the handle through the action of the spring 61, into ensasemexit with the upper end of the lower rod 6| causing the latter to move the latch plate 31 about its lpivot Vpins 36, :36. The'latch plate 31 moves against the force ofthe spring 46 and causes the detents 36,36 to move out of the respring 46 pivots insulation of an electric' the following claims. Protection is herein apanarco cesses 46, 46 to clear the stops 26,26 the handle |1 can then pivot downwardly into the operating range between the stops 26 and 26. The operator releases the hand lever 66 and the latch whereby the locking detents 36, 36 ride on the surfaces 4| of the segments 21, 21. At the same time the spring 61 moves the rod 62 upwardly in the handle |1 and upwardly in the electrical receptacle 66 out of engagement with the lower rod 6|, and' also moves the hand lever 66 to normal position, as shown in Figure 2. If the operator desires to use the handle in lowered position the hand lever 6.5 is. operated to pivot the latch plate 31 which moves the locking detents 36, 36 whereby the handle can be pivoted downwardly until the detents pass the stops 26, 26 and enter the working range between the stops 26 and 36 at which time the operator releases the `hand lever 66 and the detents 36, 36 will ride upon' the surfaces 42, 42 of the segments 21, 21 between the stops 26 and 36'. Should the operator desire to return the handle to the higher operating range or storage position he merely pivots the handle. upwardly and the detents 36, 36 willride over the cammed surfaces 66 and 6| on the segments'. 21, 21 by forcing the latch vplate 31 to move against the force of the spring 45, without the necessity of manipulating the hand lever 66.

From the foregoing it will be perceived that the motor housing 6 extends rearwardly to enclose the handle pivot 2|, that the locking detent the insulation of the electrical connector is provided with means to accommodate the two rods 6| and4 62 forming part of the hand operated handle control mechanism.

It is to be understood that the protection herein applied for is not confined to the particular combinations of features or elements set out in plied for, for any one or more of the features or elements referred to in the following claims, or

described in the foregoing specifications or shown. in the accompanying drawings, either independently or in combination.

' It is claimedzy 1. In al suction cleaner, a body, a handle pivoted on said body, locking segment means rigidly mounted on said body,v locking detent means movable .with said vhandle and pivoted thereto 5! below the pivotal axis of said handle for engagement with said segment means, means for actuating said detent means for removable engage' ment with said segment means, and spring means connected tosaid body and to said handle s below the pivotal axis of the latter for counterbalancing the weight of said handle.

2. In a suction cleaner having a motor for. operating a fan to create. suction, a body,'a handle pivoted on said body, electrical connector s means disposed in said handle, electrical conductors connecting said electrical. connector means to the motor, locking segment means, `locking detent means pivoted below-the pivotal axis of. said handle and engageable with said segment means to lock said handle in'a plurality oLpositions, and means extending from saiddetent means upwardly through the insulation of said electrical connector to the upper end of said handle foractuatlon by the hand of the ope the latch plate 31 upwardly 5 ator to actuate said detent means for removable engagement with said segment means.

3. In a suction cleaner having a motor, a body, a handle pivoted on said body, electrical connector means disposed in said handle for eiecting connection of said motor to a source of current and having an opening extending through A its insulation, locking segment means, locking detent means engageable with said segment means to lock said handle in a plurality ofpositions, and means for actuating said detent means comprising two rods one of said rods extending fromsaid detent means into said opening in said insulation and lthe other rod extending from said opening in said insulation upwardly in said handle to the upper end thereof, the insulation defining said opening forming a part of the operative engagement between said two rods.

4. In a suction cleaner, a body, a handle pivoted on said body, locking segment means mounted on said body, locking detent means pivoted on said handle for engagement with said'segment means to lock said handle in 'a plurality of positions, and means for 'actuating said detent means comprising lower and upper rods, said lower rod extending from said detent means upwardly into said handle, said upper rod extending in spaced relation from said lower rod upwardly in said handle to the upper end thereof, means normally urging said upper rod out of engagement with said lower rod, and hand operated means for actuating said upper rod into engagement with said lower rod to actuate said detent means.

In a suction cleaner having a motor, a4 body, a handle socket pivotedon said body, a handle removably disposed in said socket, cooperating electrical connectors in said socket and handle for eiecting connection to said motor from a source of current, means for controlling the vpo sition of said handle with respect to said body, disjointed means disposed in said handle and extending irom said handle control means upwardly through said electrical connectors to the upper end of said handle and adapted to be actuated bythe hand of the operator to manipulate said control means, and means in said electrical connectors for receiving the adjacent'ends of said disjointed handle actuating means, whereby upon separation of said handle and socket the adjacent ends of said disjointed means are supported in said electrical connectors.

'6. In a suction cleaner having a motor,- a body` a handle socket pivoted on said body, a handle removably disposed in said socket, cooperating male and female electrical connectors in said socket and handle for effecting connection oi said motor to a source of current, means for positioning said handle vin adjusted positions with respect to said body, disjointed means disposed in said handle and extending from said handle positioning means upwardly through said electrical connectors to the upper end of said handle, means actuated by the `operator to manipulate said disjointed means to operate s aid handle positioninglmeans, means in saidelectrical connectors for supporting the adjacent endsof said dis- I jointed means, said electrical connectors having their male and female contacts 'arranged with respect to the adjacent ends of said disjointed means whereby upon connecting said male and female contacts -theadjacent ends of said disjointed means are brought into register.

BERNICE E. BECKER, Emecutna: of the Estate of Bernard C. Becker,

Deceased. 

